Tag Archives: Bellharbour

A JUDGE has stated that she is not going to criminalise four respectable north Clare farmers involved in a row over a right of way in Bellharbour in the Burren. At Ennis District Court, Judge Mary Larkin told the four men, “You can’t be pushing and shoving and rowing about a right of way. I am happy for the circuit court to resolve the right of way matter.” In the case, the four men deny the assault charges against them before the district court. Twin brother and farmer, Terence McGann (43) of Turlough, Bellharbour, denies  the assault of Joseph Forde at Turlough, Bellharbour, on October 4 2021. Mr McGann’s twin and farmer, Justin (43) of the same address denies the assault of Emmet Forde at the same location on the same date. Arising from the same incident, Emmet Forde (32) of Glenoir, St Senan’s Road, Ennis, denies the assault of Justin McGann at the same location on the same date …

LAST May I met with artist Richard Hearns in his garden near Bellharbour and I really was struck by his remarkable sense of positivity despite being an artist in the midst of a pandemic. Perusing a beautifully illustrated catalogue I discovered that the Cadogan Contemporary Gallery in London organised a series of Richard’s works to be shown during the summer. The exhibition entitled ‘Enclave’ described by Richard as a ‘territory marked out not by traditional lines, borders and language but by something beyond these bounds -colour! This is exactly what we need these days – more colour in our lives. That day on behalf of New Quay Community Development Group I asked Richard to create a concept for a mural for our community on New Quay National School’s ‘Shelter’ wall. A few days later Richard responded with a brilliant concept based around ideas of ‘Growth’. He told me how he thought about the holistic growth of a child. How their …

A COMMUNITY mural will be painted during the summer months on an exterior wall of New Quay National School. The mural will be dedicated to the people working and living around Bellharbour and New Quay and created by professional artist Richard Hearns who is living in the area. Some funding has been offered by Clare County Council’s Community Support Scheme which will help the artist to purchase the necessary supplies. The concept of the design is based on ‘GROWTH’. There are many aspects within this concept -whether it be the growth of a child through school years mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically. There is also the growth of nature and natural phenomena which Richard also plans to incorporate into the design. An oil painting will be created by Richard to begin the process and then in collaboration with a mural artist they will follow this design and produce the mural at the school. New Quay Community Development Group is inviting …

INTERNATIONAL tributes have been paid following the passing of the acclaimed Bellharbour concerntina player, Chris Droney, who passed away on September 9, at the age of 95. Broadcaster, teacher and musician Kieran Hanrahan, who spoke at Chris’s funeral on Saturday last, said, “He was a chieftain in Clare. Some called him a druid and leader.” The Ennis man credited Chris Droney with inspiring a blossoming of traditional music in the county town and across Clare. “When Chris would come to Ennis for the Fleadhs, he was really what I would call a mega figure,” Mr Hanrahan said. “He was a national figure in the ‘60s and ‘70s and yet he was still so accessible. He always had a word of encouragement, especially for the youth of Ennis in those days. He took a delight in young people playing music. He was always so lovely and so decent. As a person, he was unassuming and an absolutely gorgeous character.” In one …

A MAN fractured both his feet and one of his arms attempting lift off in a device known as a “TrikeBuggy Bullet”, effectively a flying tricycle, in Bellharbour. The Air Accident Investigation Unit have just published their report into the incident which happened in June of last year. It found that the flying tricycle just about departed the ground before quickly crashing into a wall at the boundary of the field it was attempting to take off from. One person watching the attempted take off was almost hit by the TrikeBuggy Bullet. The report says, ” All three wheels were off the ground for approximately one second and the trike turned further to the left. The engine noise also increased. When the trike returned to the ground, it was travelling towards the perimeter wall, and was almost perpendicular to it. The trike impacted the wall, nose wheel first. The engine noise decreased just before impact. “The video shows that as …

Gardai in North Clare are investigating a series of burglaries in Bellharbour, Ballyvaughan, Tubber and Crusheen during the past week. Between 12.15amand 7am last Saturday a shed was broken into in Turlough, Bellharbour by breaking the lock. A garden strimmer was stolen but was subsequently recovered dumped in a nearby ditch. The car that was parked nearby had its rear window smashed and a chainsaw stolen from the boot. Last weekend also, a shed in Muckinish, Ballyvaughan was also entered by breaking the lock. Stolen were a Netlfix Alto power washer, an MS 180 chainsaw, a pole saw and a pick axe. Earlier in the week a shed was broken into in Turloghmore in Boston, Tubber. Stolen in this burglary were a variety of wrenches and a Stihl orange-colured chainsaw. A double axle trailer was stolen from Clare County Council’s storage yard at Crusheen over the weekend. Between 4pm last Friday and 8am on Monday, the council yard in Clonmoney …

LEGENDARY concertina player, Chris Droney from Bellharbour has been honoured as the recipient of this year’s TG4 Gradam Saoil (Hall of Fame). Chris was born in 1924. His father, James and grandfather Michael (1829-1927) also played concertina and Chris learnt by ear and parental example from the age of eight. He began his musical career by learning two tunes The Wearing of the Green and Clare’s Dragoons. His first public appearance was at the age of 14 in Johnson’s dance hall in Kinvara for which he was paid half a crown. He went on to play in several bands and from 1956 he won ten All-Ireland medals – nine solo and one for a duet with fiddler Gus Tierney. His son, Francis and daughter, Ann have also won All-Ireland titles on concertina. Many of his grandchildren are continuing the family tradition on concertina and some, most notably Daithí, are playing fiddle. In 2004 his contribution to music was honoured by …